IPTL Premier - Will Team EG get over the EG curse?

Evil Genisues, all rumors aside from the Stephano deal that isn’t confirmed, is always a team to contend with in any league/event and although it had a very rough few months with stars like HuK and IdrA being in major slumps, they have shown signs of improvement.

In the previous IPL TAC3, which has transitioned into IPTL for this season, EG managed to make it to the semifinals of the loser bracket but frankly the only time they played a heavy hitter, EG got decimated losing 5-0 to MVP in the second round of the winners bracket and then dropping 5-2 to Prime in the loser bracket semi-finals. Arguably, EG seemed outclassed and outgunned while bolstering a strong lineup of top tier pros.

EG’s Curse?

The “EG curse” has been joked around lately, but frankly is nothing to laugh about. With players like Thorzain, HuK, Puma, JYP and IdrA, EG should be shaking their heads at the results, as I’m sure they are, but this isn’t Kansas anymore so if I were to place bets on EG not only with regards to IPTL but the end of 2012 and start of 2013, Evil Geniuses will be turning some heads.

The Stars

HuK – EG’s HuK, a fan favorite and "top 3 control" medal holder, has relatively crashed, burned and fallen off the radar as of late and it is a real shame. Although his personality is unfaltering and hilarious at times, his style of play is simply outdated and HuK needs to do something to get his game back on track.

HuK has won two MLG events, played in consecutive GSL seasons and has been one of the more revolutionary Protoss players throughout StarCraft II. Look for EG’s star player to start turning things around, teams and players alike should be fearing the monster that’s growing inside HuK, because he doesn’t sit for being last for long.

IdrA – IdrA has proven time and time again that he will eventually come under the scrutiny of the community for poor results from the ending seasons of 2011 through the entire 2012 season. However if you watched MLG Raleigh and witnessed the second rising of a giant it should be on everyone’s mind that IdrA is coming back.

It is up for him to prove it to not only his fans but his doubters that he is deserving of the title of best North American Zerg.

PuMa – The Korean star who was known to have the best 1/1/1 out of any professional player during the great wave of Terran All-ins, managed to take gold and silver back to back times against his rival HerO strengthening the “EG vs Liquid” fanboy wave which has subsided as of late.

Puma is a star who can beat any player on a good day, but looks like bit-by-bit on a bad day. EG will require him to be in top form if they want to make a deep run into IPTL.

ThorZaIN – Known for his extremely methodical play, the latest pickup from EG, has been rather quiet thus far on EG; but quiet does not mean gone and if there is one Terran who has the ability to all-kill any team at any time it is Thorzain.

Thorzain is noted as one of the best foreigners to play the game but what is really interesting with Thorzain is the fact he excels in any league, be it team or individual. Thorzain is no stranger to all-killing, as he did it to Incredible Miracle before in the finals of Team Arena Challenge 3.

JYP – Another player who has had his fair share of run ins with Liquid’s HerO, JYP still stands as one of the better Protoss players around and although his results don’t show it JYP is a player who should be feared before every match.

Standing in for HuK while he slumps, JYP has had to be the ace Protoss for EG, and simply that isn’t the type of player he is, causing him to struggle to fit the role. With HuK slowly climbing back into form and giving JYP more leeway, we could see a dominating duo that will surprise players everywhere.

So where will they place?

EG will, in my opinion, fall out early during this IPTL season as they haven’t gotten everything rolling smoothly. If certain events happen, such as the grabbing a certain top French Zerg, then who is to say we won’t have a similar story to the one Liquid had with Taeja.

Tune into IPTL to see EG play in the Premier Division, it’s going to be a wild ride through the new format and we hope you enjoy it!